Author's Note: Enjoy! Heather Dawn, thanks for all the amazing and consistent feedback this week and thank you to Cathy whose last review absolutely cracked me up, lol!

The train had stopped and Lucas didn't even bother to hail a taxi. Although it was more than a few blocks, adrenaline alone had kept his feet pounding the sidewalks. He had run fast and hard until he was literally out of breath but it didn't matter. He wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not until he was home. Not until he could see and talk to her again.

"Brooke!" he yelled as he burst through the door.

No answer.

He peered to the private garage where they housed their vehicles. Her car was gone. He dared not check the closets. It didn't matter. Something inside told him she was gone and never coming back.

He collapsed on the couch. It hurt. A lump formed in his throat. It felt like a hollow in the middle of his heart. The feeling of loneliness and emptiness was indescribable. It sucked. Brooke was gone. It was the worst thing in the world.

Lucas closed his eyes and suddenly it hit him. So many years before, alone in an empty apartment, that's exactly what his younger brother must have been feeling when Haley had walked out that door. A loss of hope. A profound sense of sadness. Feeling like your best friend had been taken away because in essence, she had.

Thank God he had some time off. He didn't know if he could handle being around people or practicing or God forbid playing in a game. His mind was on a million things and unfortunately, basketball wasn't one. He curled up on the couch under a warm blanket and he wanted to stay there…forever.

He certainly felt like it. He slept for hours. Hours and hours. He gave in to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. His body could no longer take it. He slept through the day and on into the next day. It was the door opening that finally roused him from deep slumber. Lucas sat and rubbed his eyes, double checking that the vision of loveliness in front of him wasn't just a dream.

"Brooke…"

"I see you're back."

"You weren't here. I thought you left…for good."

"I did but Peyton and Jake wouldn't let me move in and seeing as those I don't have any other place to go and business and life are here, I kind of had to come back."

"I'm glad you did."

"Yeah…"

"Wait…Peyton and Jake? Brooke, did you drive all the way back to North Carolina?"

"Yes", she nodded. "Pretty stupid, huh? And I'm flipping exhausted. That drive is seriously no joke."

"Why'd you go there?"

"I was mad at you and I wanted to run away and there was nowhere else to run to", she answered honestly.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too, Broody. How…how did it go?"

Lucas shrugged.

"Looks like you were right."

"About?"

"It's not Nathan's. Chris is the father."

Brooke narrowed her eyes.

"Haley told you that."

"Not exactly. I didn't get to see her. She wasn't home."

"Then how…"

"Taylor."

"You mean, her pyro, psycho, slut of an older sister?"

"That's one way of putting it. Apparently Taylor lives there now."

"She told you it's Chris'?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. Um, how do you feel about that?"

"I don't know. How should I feel?"

"Did you want it to be Nate's kid?"

"Honestly? A part of me did."

"Why?"

"Because I'm selfish. Because even though I know the dramatic production that would have followed and all the people that would have been hurt, including the kid, it would have given me a chance to be really back in Haley's life. And it would have given me someone else to identify with and take care of…just like Keith did for me."

Brooke closed her eyes.

"You're a good man, Lucas Scott? You know that? And you can still be there for Haley and her baby. Maybe things worked out this way because it's best for everyone in the long run…especially the child."

"I know."

"You know how it was with you and Dan at first. And you know my parents. Being a good mom or dad and raising kids in a healthy, loving, stable environment is the most important thing you could do. Every child deserves that."

"You're right. I'm just sorry I hurt you, Brooke."

"I know. And I also know why you had to do it?"

"Are you mad at me?"

"For making me miss J. Lo? Oh hell yeah…but I'll get over it. I'll let you make it up to me. It's nothing a ski trip to Aspen, a Coach handbag, and a couple pairs of new shoes won't solve."

"Anything you want", he said truthfully. "Because you mean that much to me, Brooke. I love you and I mean that. With all my heart, babe."

"I know. And I love you, too. You're my Broody."

The couple kissed and embraced.

"I still have to talk to Nathan. He's my brother. But after that, I just want to enjoy spending my time with you."

She nodded.

"You think Haley will be okay?"

Lucas thought for a minute.

"I hope so. I won't push her. I'll always be there for her but I'll leave it up to her if and when she decides to have me in her life. Can you deal with that? I know she isn't one of your favorite people."

"It's not that, Luke."

"Brooke…"

"Can I be honest?"

"Of course?"

"You know you're the first and only man I've ever loved. I let my guard down quick with you and I trusted you and you really hurt me with the Peyton situation. For a while it made me bitter and angry and believe that there was no such thing as true love. To be that cold and closed off emotionally is a horrible thing because pretty soon you start to believe it and you become this hardened person. But seeing Nathan and Haley changed all that. They made me believe again. What they had was real and true and just beautiful. It sounds corny but they were my hope. And when she left…she kind of took my dreams with her. You know? Like, if those two can't make it, then who can? That sounds really stupid, huh?"

Lucas looked at her with sincere tears in her eyes.

"No. No, Brooke, that's not stupid."

"So Broody, I guess you weren't the only one who was a little selfish. Haley is a good person and I don't hate her. I hope she's okay just like I hope Nate and Meg are going to be okay. And their children. Peace and happiness. That's my wish for us. All of us."

Lucas sighed, burying his face into her sweet smelling hair as she nestled under the blanket with him. He held her close. As long as he had Brooke Davis in his life, he would always have peace and happiness. She was his sanity, his true love…his soul mate. God had blessed them and he mouthed a special prayer that some of that generosity would be bestowed upon, Nathan, Haley, Megan and the innocent babies the two women were carrying. He had a feeling deep in his heart that they were all gonna need all the blessings they could get.